'A game-changer for animals': Regina Humane Society breaks ground on new animal care centre
Since 1964, the Regina Humane Society (RHS) has made its home in north Regina. On Thursday, the RHS broke ground on a new and innovative animal community centre in Harbour Landing.
“We are not building a traditional animal centre,” executive director, Lisa Koch said. “You’ll be able to see the stark contrast and what it will mean for both animals and people.
“Our current facility is falling apart around us. We spend money just trying to keep the lights on and the doors open with the current conditions we have.”
The RHS Animal Community Centre will offer a safe refuge for homeless pets, a home-like adoption gallery and an education centre along with expanded veterinary services.
“This will be a game-changer for the health and welfare for the animals,” said Koch.
The total project cost is $28 million, with most of the bill being paid by donors. Sylvia Aumuller passed away in 2009. The welfare of animals, specifically cats, was her passion. RHS honoured her estate donation of $1.4 million by naming the adoption atrium in her name.
“She would be thrilled and so happy this day has finally come,” Sylvia’s niece Paula Duguid said. “It would have been nice for her to see the facility.”
“It would give her comfort to know how well the humane society is going to be able to treat and care for the animals,” nephew Ken Karwandy said.
The City of Regina also joined in the partnership, funding 46 per cent of the new facility. Mayor Sandra Masters called the relationship between the RHS and the city longstanding.
“For a very long time, the current facility has been somewhat inaccessible to the community,” she said. “So bringing the connection back into the community is worth the investment and we’re looking forward to more participation with the community and humane society and these animals.”
“It takes a village to bring a project of this size to life,” said Koch. “We were founded by our community and it’s always been there for us.”
To date, the project has secured just over $24 million in funding, leaving about $4 million left to raise. RHS hopes to have the centre open and operational by June of 2023.
The new facility will be located at 4900 Parliament Ave.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING | Child dies after being left in hot car while mother taught at Ontario high school, mayor says
An Ontario community is reeling after a 23-month-old boy died when he was accidentally left in a hot car outside the school where his mother taught, the mayor says.

G7 leaders discuss cap on price of Russian gas to squeeze war funds
Group of Seven leaders considered a possible cap on the price of Russian gas exports on Monday as a way to put the squeeze on the funding for Vladimir Putin's war with Ukraine.
Woman trampled, killed by horses at central Alberta rodeo: RCMP
A 30-year-old woman is dead after falling off a horse at the Ponoka Stampede on Sunday.
'There won't be occupiers': City of Ottawa, police prepared for Canada Day protests
City of Ottawa staff and the Ottawa Police Service are ensuring residents that planned protests on Canada Day will not devolve into the kind of occupation that residents endured this past winter.
Russian missile strike hits crowded shopping mall in Ukraine
Russian long-range bombers fired a missile that struck a crowded shopping mall in Ukraine's central city of Kremenchuk on Monday, raising fears of what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called an 'unimaginable' number of victims in 'one of the most disastrous terrorist attacks in European history.'
'Deepest apologies': Central Alberta rodeo organizers shocked by parade float
Organizers of a central Alberta rodeo and its parade committee are calling for calm after a float in this weekend's parade, which possessed a racist theme, was seen in the procession.
New double crater seen on the moon after mystery rocket impact
The moon has a new double crater after a rocket body collided with its surface on March 4.
Deadly and contagious rabbit virus detected in Ontario for first time
A highly contagious and deadly virus that affects rabbits and hares has been detected in Ontario for the first time.
New Omicron subvariant expected to become dominant COVID-19 strain in Ontario
A new subvariant of Omicron is expected to become the dominant strain of COVID-19 in Ontario, health officials say.